A NEW team of hit squads' have been tackling some of Rossendale's main grot spots in a bid to clean up the borough.

The sqauds of between four and 12 Streetscene staff are being assembled each week to undertake high profile, mass clear ups.

They were launched earlier this year to blitz unsightly parts of the borough.

Hit squads have tackled: Regent Street, Haslingden; the under pass from Stubbins Vale Road to Alderwood; Bury Road, near the Railway pub Rawtenstall; land behind Roberts Street, Rawtenstall; paths leading to Staghills, Waterfoot, Cowm Park Way South, Whitworth; rear of Rockliffe Road, Bacup; Edenfield Village Centre; land to rear of Pennine Road, Bacup; wooded area in front of Taylor Avenue, Edgeside; footpath off Park Road through wooded area, Waterfoot; old lane, Whitworth; Parkinson Street, Haslingden; John Street, Haslingden and Stubbins Vale, Stubbins.

The hit squads will now operate every Wednesday for the foreseeable future, co-ordinated by the council's Neighbourhood Environmental Action Teams.

Coun Judith Driver, Streetscene portfolio holder, said: "We will be asking local people to nominate the sites they would like to see the Hit Squads tackle."

NEAT team co-ordinator Dave Whiteman said: "Ultimately if landowners do not co-operate with the council and their inaction is a major cause of environmental problems we have powers to force them into action and/or charge them for the clean up costs."

To suggest sites which need treating, contact the NEAT Team on 01706 252552 or e-mail neatteam @rossendalebc.gov.uk